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Tuesday, December 25, 2012

The Gift 11/11

Summary: It's been four long years of war and separation. But now the hostilities are over. But Kid's family is still flung to the far corners of the earth and he's feeling guilty he didn't go with them. Will the spirit of the Christmas season help him forget?

Kid reached out and pulled Jimmy into
yet another hug. “You came when you
could, Jimmy. That’s all that
matters.” Stepping back and pointing
toward the table, he added, “Now, let’s eat!”

Back at the table, Kid uttered a few
short words of thanks and then stood to begin carving the turkey. As he sliced through the bird and began
laying slices of rich, dark meat on the plates Lou held out to him, he asked,
“So, you mind explainin’ yerself, Harbinger?”

“Please, call me Tom,” the young man
said, smiling around the room at those gathered for Christmas dinner. “Well, it’s simple really. Old Man Rockefeller died about a year and a
half ago. Split his money evenly between
all his sons. I was hired by the will’s
executor to find the black sheep of the family, one William Rockefeller. Disappeared into the Tennessee mountain
country about 18 years ago or so. Headed
out on a surveying expedition and was never heard from again.”

“Ma always used to talk ‘bout how he
come ta town with a bunch of big city yahoos, fell in love with her at first
site and never left,” Martha added in a wondering tone of voice. “You’re sayin’ he come from money? And gave it all up fer her?”

“It would appear so,” Tom nodded,
accepting a plate piled high with turkey and biscuits. “Assuming you’re his children, Martha and
Tucker Rockefeller.” Setting it down in
front of him, he sniffed appreciatively.
“This looks like the finest meal I’ve had since I crossed the
Mississippi River, ma’am.”

Lou smiled a bit uncertainly, still not
sure she believed him. In a stern voice,
she asked, “So, why’d you go about sayin’ they was wanted back in Box Elder if
ya were just tryin’ ta deliver an inheritance?”

“Well, I found I got more attention from
folk if they thought I was looking for someone wanted by the law,” Tom said,
blushing a little. “Didn’t set right,
lying to folks like that, but I was getting pretty desperate. I thought I’d found them back in Cherry
Gulch. The banker was real eager to show
me where they lived if I’d agree to pay off their mortgage. But by the time we got out there the place
was picked clean. Not even a chicken on
the place. Damndest thing I ever did
see.”

Martha suddenly burst into tears. Lou stood and rushed to her side, Teresa
right behind her.

“It’s all right,” she soothed. “You’re safe.”

“But, don’t’ya see,” Martha sobbed. “If only I’d fought a little bit harder that
day. Made him wait ‘til the next morning
at least,” she added, raising her tear covered face to look up at Lou. “Maybe we wouldn’ta had ta go through all
that.”

“Yeah.
Or maybe ya’d’ve gone through worse,” Lou said softly. “From what Tucker and you tol’ us ‘bout
Hollander, and what Harbinger just said, sounds like he was after yer Pa’s
money. It would sure explain why he
acted like he did and why he ran when he thought someone was there ta take ya
away from him. Even why he treated you
like a wife, Martha. To keep you tied to
him.”

“But it’s all over now,” Kid added,
placing a reassuring hand on the girl’s frail shoulder. “You’re safe.
And nobody’s gonna make ya do a thing you don’t want to,” he added
firmly, glaring sternly at Harbinger.

“Oh, I’m not here to make anyone do
anything,” Tom agreed quickly, nodding vigorously. “I’m just here to let you know how you can
access the money your grandfather left you.
It’s being held in an account back in New York City. But I just have to wire them to let them know
I’ve found you and they’ll send it on out here to the bank of your choice. Except,” he paused a little uncertainly. “You both look a bit young. How old are you?”

Tom Harbinger gaped at her, looking from
her face to her rounded belly and back again.
“Fif… fif.. fifteen?”

She raised her chin proudly. “Yes, sir.
I got two older brothers. One
joined the Army durin’ the War and got killed.
That was Will, Jr. The other run
off after Ma died. We haven’t heard from
him since. It’s just Tucker and me
now. Well,” she paused and looked over
at the children’s table before adding, “And Albert. But he’s Hollander’s, so I don’t s’pose he
counts toward this inheritance.”

“Legally?” Tom shook his head. “No.
But at your age you’ll have to have a guardian to watch out for the
money to you reach your majority. You
have any family left?”

“Maybe,” Martha said uncertainly. Setting her utensils down, she nervously
twisted her hands in the fabric of her skits.
Looking around the table, she added, her southern accent deepening with
emotion, “In my heart you’re all family.
I know we ain’t known ya all that long and maybe we ain’t got the right
ta make such claims. But ain’t no one
treated us as much like family since our Pa died. I know you really had to dig deep to find
enough to provide for us, even temporary.
And… well, it isn’t like I need to be rich, just be able to put food on
the table. Make sure there’s enough to
provide for my siblings,” she paused and rubbed a hand over her belly. “And my baby.” Lifting her chin determinedly she finished,
“That’s why I want to give the money to y’all.
If we can stay here and help you run the ranch, that is. This is a good place. You’re good folk. We could be happy here, if you want us.”

“Oh, darlin’,” Lou smiled, hugging her
tightly around the shoulders, even as tears formed in the corners of her own
eyes. “I already think of you like a
sister. But don’t you think you should
at least find out how much money we’re talkin’ ‘bout here before you go givin’
it all away?”

“Well,” Martha asked, turning to
Harbinger. “How much is this
inheritance?”

“I don’t know what it’s at by now, what
with interest earned over the last year and all,” he averred. “But, when I was hired the amount put into
the account was $550,000. Your grandfather
was a very rich man.”

Lou and Martha issued twin gasps. Kid’s face blanched white.

“That’s…. that’s more money then there
is in all of the Sweetwater Bank,” Jeremiah murmured, awed.

“Honey, you don’t really want to give it
all away, do you?” Lou asked, concerned.

Martha shrugged. “One thing I’ve learned, money can make
things easier, but if it comes down to it, I’d rather have family than cold
cash.”

“Well, we won’t go makin’ any decisions
immediately,” Kid said, meeting Lou’s eyes in agreement. “Things might change. You might need that money someday. But, you’re welcome to stay with us as long
as you want.”

**********

Lou stood, leaning back against Kid, his
arms wrapped tightly around her middle, while she watched her brothers, her
children and her newest family members laughing and chattering around the
Christmas tree. Cody was stuffing one of
the gingersnaps in his mouth, Teaspoon held tightly to a turkey leg he’d been
nibbling on all afternoon. Jimmy was
needling Buck about something, until Buck winced with discomfort. Then Jimmy was all solicitous concern. Martha and Tucker were laughing and sharing
memories of their family with Harbinger, who was telling them what he knew
about their father.

Kid sighed and rested his chin on Lou’s
shoulder.

“What are you thinking?” Lou asked
quietly.

“Remember when we got engaged? That minister said we were blessed? And you said maybe you’d forgotten it for
awhile?”

Lou nodded.

“Well, I think I’m the one what forgot
this time around,” Kid said quietly.
“All these months worrying about the money to keep the ranch going,
wondering what had happened to the others, feeling guilty for not having gone
with them, I kind of lost track of what I did have.”

“Nothin’ like family to remind you of
what you’ve got,” Teaspoon agreed, having snuck up on them somehow. “And sometimes it’s the family we don’t even
know we’ve got that makes the biggest difference. You stoppin’ ta help Martha and Tucker
out? That was an act of family. And look at how well that’s turned out? Be not
forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels
unawares*. That’s what this season’s
all about. The true spirit of Christmas,
the real Gift He gave us that night He was born. The Gift of Love, of Family.”

The Author

Who am I? A Hispanic broadcast journalist, current host of Kansas Week on KPTS, and certified high school teacher, a writer and lifelong lover of all things historical, particularly the Old West. I'm married to a wonderful man from Germany and we have a 17 yr old son. We have two rescued cats and a rescued pooch, who thinks she's a 70 lb lapdog. I'm prone to talk about anything and everything that catches my interest.